Collapsible crate

ABSTRACT

A collapsible crate includes a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges. The side edges are longer than the end edges. A pair of opposed side walls are pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Each of the pair of opposed side walls include a handle opening therethrough. A pair of opposed end walls are pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.

BACKGROUND

In the case-ready meat, seafood and poultry industries, fluids may leak from packages during transit. The leaked fluids may contaminate other products, the trucks and other equipment carrying the packages.

SUMMARY

A collapsible crate includes a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges. The side edges are longer than the end edges. A pair of opposed side walls are pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Each of the pair of opposed side walls includes a handle opening therethrough. A pair of opposed end walls are pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.

The base may further include opposing upstanding side flanges along the side edges of the base and upstanding end flanges along the end edges of the base. The side walls may be pivotably connected to the upstanding side flanges and the end walls may be pivotably connected to the upstanding end flanges. In the disclosed embodiment, the upstanding end flanges are taller than the upstanding side flanges.

The base may include a center channel between a pair of support platforms. An upper portion of at least one of the pair of opposed side walls may be receivable in the center channel when moved to the collapsed position.

The side walls may each include a panel member recessed outward of an upper frame. The upper frame may be received in the center channel when the first side wall is in the collapsed position.

The base may include a drag rail projecting downward at a periphery of the base. The drag rail may define channels on an upper surface of the base adjacent the side edges and the end edges. There may be interruptions in a center of the drag rail along side edges of the base below the side edges.

The collapsible crate may be a small collapsible crate relative to a large collapsible crate. The small collapsible crate may be stacked on the large collapsible crate. The large collapsible crate may include a large base, a pair of long walls pivotably connected to the large base, and a pair of short walls pivotably connected to the large base. Handle openings are formed through the short walls of the large collapsible crate. The small collapsible crate can be stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on one of the short walls of the large collapsible crate.

A second small collapsible crate identical to the small collapsible crate may be stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the other of the short walls of the large collapsible crate. The end walls of the small crate may not have handle openings therethrough, to reduce ventilation of the small crate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible crate according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the collapsible crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the base of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows the crate of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the collapsed crate of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a collapsible crate according to a second embodiment with an alternative base.

FIG. 11 is a section view of the crate of FIG. 1 with an identical crate stacked thereon.

FIG. 12 shows two layers of ten crates each in an arrangement that would be placed on a standard size pallet.

FIG. 13 shows the crates of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position stacked on a second crate having a base that is twice the size of the crate.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the crates of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the crates of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 shows the crates of FIG. 13, both in an upright, use position stacked.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the crates of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the crates of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is an end view of the crates of FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 shows two of the crates of FIG. 1 stacked on the larger second crate.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the crates of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the crates of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is an end view of the crates of FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of two of the crates of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position stacked on the larger, second crate in a collapsed position.

FIG. 25 is a side view of the cates of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a top view of the crates of FIG. 24.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A collapsible crate 10 according to one embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the crate 10 is in an upright, assembled position. The crate 10 includes a base 12. A pair of side walls 14 are pivotably connected to side upstanding flanges 18 projecting upward from side edges of the base 12 and formed integrally with the rest of the base 12. A pair of end walls 16 are pivotably connected to end upstanding flanges 20 projecting upward from end edges of the base 12 and formed integrally with the rest of the base 12. The end walls 16 are selectively latched to the side walls 14 by latches 24. In this embodiment, the side walls 14 are longer (i.e. distance between the end walls 16) than the end walls 16 (i.e. distance between the side walls 14).

Each of the side walls 14 includes an upper frame member 26 and a lower frame member 27. A substantially planar panel member 28 extends from the upper frame member 26 to the lower frame member 27. The panel member 28 is recessed toward the exterior of the crate 10 relative to the upper frame member 26 and the lower frame member 27. The side walls 14 each include a handle opening 30 formed through the panel member 28 just below the upper frame member 26. Each side wall 14 and end wall 16 is injection molded as a single plastic part.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base 12 of FIG. 1 with the side walls 14 and end walls 16 removed. The base 12 is an integrally formed single piece of plastic. The base 12 includes a pair of support platforms 32 extending parallel to the side walls 14. The support platforms 32 are spaced from one another. A center ridge 34 is positioned between the support platforms 32 leaving channels 36. The center ridge 34 and the channels 36 are parallel to the side walls 14. The support platforms 32 and center ridge 34 are spaced inward from the side walls 14 leaving channels 40 and spaced inward from the end walls 16 leaving channels 38.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the base 12. On the underside of the base 12, the support platforms 32 and center ridge 34 are recesses. A drag rail 42 projects downwardly from a periphery of the remainder of the base 12. Interruptions 43 in the drag rail 42 are formed in the center of each side edge of the base 12.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the crate 10. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the crate 10.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the crate 10. FIG. 7 is an end view of the crate 10.

FIG. 8 shows the crate 10 in a collapsed position. As is known, after releasing the latches 24, the side walls 14 are then collapsed onto the base 12. The end walls 16 are then collapsed onto the side walls 14 and the base 12. The end upstanding flanges 20 are taller than the side upstanding flanges 18.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the collapsed crate 10 of FIG. 8. As shown, the side walls 14 partially overlap when collapsed. One of the side walls 14 is in direct contact with the base 12. The upper frame member 26 is received in the opposite channel 36 (on the opposite side of the center ridge 34 of that side wall 14). The center ridge 34 is received adjacent the panel member 28 just below the upper frame member 26. The lower frame member 27 is partially received in the channel 40. The alignment of the upper frame member 26 with channel 36, the lower frame member 27 with the channel 40, and the center ridge 34 with the panel member 28 all help reduce the height of the collapsed crate 10.

Note that in FIG. 9 the section is taken through the interruptions 43 in the drag rail 42, but that the channels 40 extend downward into the drag rail 42. The channels 38 (FIG. 2) also extend downward into the drag rail 42. If the other side wall 14 (on the left in FIG. 9) were folded down first, the image of FIG. 9 would be the mirror image. The channels 40 are deeper than the channels 36. The channels 38 (FIG. 2) are also deeper than the channels 36.

FIG. 10 shows a collapsible crate l0a according to a second embodiment with an alternative base 12a. The base 12a includes a large channel 36a between the support platforms 32a, without a center ridge 34a. The crate l0a is otherwise identical and again, the upper frame member 26 of the side wall 14 is received in the large channel 36a.

FIG. 11 is a section view of the crate 10 with an identical crate 10 stacked thereon. As shown, the drag rail 42 of the upper crate 10 is received snugly between the upper frame members 26 of the lower crate 10. The center ridge 34 is slightly shorter than the support platforms 32. FIG. 12 shows two layers of ten crates 10 each in an arrangement that would be placed on a standard size pallet.

FIGS. 13-15 show one of the crates 10 in a collapsed position stacked on a large crate 50 having a base that is twice the size of the crate 10 (which is relatively a “small crate”), such that two small crates 10 could be stacked on each large crate 50 (FIGS. 20-23).

FIGS. 16-19 show the small crate 10 in an upright, use position stacked on the large collapsible crate 50. The large collapsible crate 50 includes a large base 52, a pair of long walls 54 pivotably connected to the large base 52, and a pair of short walls 56 pivotably connected to the large base 52. Handle openings 60 are formed through the short walls 56 of the large collapsible crate 50. The opposed side edges of the small crate 10 are approximately the same length as the opposed short edges of the large crate 50. The opposed long edges of the large crate 50 are approximately twice the length of the end edges of the small crate 10.

The small collapsible crate 10 can be stacked on the large collapsible crate 50 with the end edges of the base 12 of the small collapsible crate 10 supported on the long walls 54 of the large collapsible crate 50 and one of the side edges of the base 12 of the small collapsible crate 10 supported on one of the short walls 56 of the large collapsible crate 50. The drag rail 42 of the crate 10 is received between the long walls 54 of the large collapsible crate 50 and inward of the proximate short wall 56.

As shown in FIGS. 20-23, two of the small crates 10 can be stacked on the large crate 50 with the end edges of the bases 12 of the small collapsible crates 10 supported on the long walls 54 of the large collapsible crate 50 and one of the side edges of the base 12 of each of the small collapsible crates 10 supported on a different one of the short walls 56 of the large collapsible crate 50. The drag rails 42 of the crates 10 are received between the long walls 54 of the large collapsible crate 50 and inward of the respective proximate short wall 56.

The handle openings 30 of the crates 10 are on the same sides as the handle openings (in the short walls or end walls) of the second crate 50. To reduce ventilation through the small crates 10, there are no handle openings through the end walls 16.

In FIGS. 24-26, the two small crates 10 are collapsed on stored on top of the collapsed large crate 50.

In the case-ready meat, seafood and poultry industries, it is desirable to contain fluids that may leak from packages during transit. In order to achieve maximum fluid retention, the base 12 of the collapsible crate 10 has multiple channels 36, 38, 40 along both the length and width of the crate 10. The perimeter drag rail 42 also promotes fluid drainage and retention, as the channels 38, 40 extend partially into the drag rail 42 (increasing the volume of the channels 38, 40). There are no openings through the base 12.

The perimeter drag rail 42 also serves additional purposes aside from fluid retention. The size and location of the drag rail 42 allows the crates to interlock when column stacked, either erected or collapsed, and also assist in transferring the load when slide stacking crates. The crates 10 can also be cross stacked and the interruptions 43 in the length of the drag rail 42 assist in interlocking the crates when cross stacked.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible crate comprising: a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges, wherein the side edges are longer than the end edges; a pair of opposed side walls pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, each of the pair of opposed side walls including a handle opening therethrough; and a pair of opposed end walls pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
 2. The collapsible crate of claim 1 wherein the base includes opposing upstanding side flanges along the side edges of the base and upstanding end flanges along the end edges of the base, wherein the side walls are pivotably connected to the upstanding side flanges and the end walls are pivotably connected to the upstanding end flanges, wherein the upstanding end flanges are taller than the upstanding side flanges.
 3. The collapsible crate of claim 2 wherein the base includes a center channel between a pair of support platforms, and wherein an upper portion of at least one of the pair of opposed side walls is received in the center channel when moved to the collapsed position.
 4. The collapsible crate of claim 3 further including a center ridge in the center channel.
 5. The collapsible crate of claim 3 wherein the pair of opposed side walls includes a first side wall, the first side wall including a panel member recessed outward of an upper frame, wherein the upper frame is received in the center channel when the first side wall is in the collapsed position.
 6. The collapsible crate of claim 1 wherein the base includes a drag rail projecting downward at a periphery of the base, wherein the drag rail defines channels on an upper surface of the base adjacent the side edges and the end edges.
 7. The collapsible crate of claim 6 further including interruptions in a center of the drag rail along side edges of the base below the side edges.
 8. The collapsible crate of claim 1 wherein the base includes a drag rail projecting downward at a periphery of the base, wherein the drag rail defines channels on an upper surface of the base outward of a pair of support platforms.
 9. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the collapsible crate is a small collapsible crate, and the small collapsible crate is stacked on a large collapsible crate, wherein the large collapsible crate includes a large base, a pair of long walls pivotably connected to the large base, and a pair of short walls pivotably connected to the large base, wherein handle openings are formed through the short walls of the large collapsible crate, wherein the small collapsible crate can be stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on one of the short walls of the large collapsible crate.
 10. The small collapsible crate and large collapsible crate of claim 9, wherein a second small collapsible crate identical to the small collapsible crate is stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the other of the short walls of the large collapsible crate.
 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the end walls of the small crates do not have handle openings therethrough.
 12. In combination: a first crate including a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges, wherein the side edges are longer than the end edges, the first crate including a pair of opposed side walls pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, each of the pair of opposed side walls including a handle opening therethrough, the first crate including a pair of opposed end walls pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base; and a second crate having a base have opposed long edges and opposed short edges, the second crate including a pair of opposed long walls pivotably connected to the long edges and a pair of opposed short walls pivotably connected to the short edges, each of the pair of opposed short walls including a handle opening therethrough, wherein the opposed side edges of the first crate are approximately the same length as the opposed short edges of the second crate and wherein the opposed long edges of the second crate are approximately twice the length of the end edges of the first crate.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the first crate is stacked on the second crate.
 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein a third crate identical to the first crate is also stacked on the second crate.
 15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the first crate is stacked on the second crate with the end edges of the base of the first crate supported on the long walls of the second crate and one of the side edges of the base of the first crate supported on one of the short walls of the second crate.
 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the end walls of the first crate do not have handle openings therethrough. 